Floribunda rose plant named  &#39;weknewchi&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of peachy pink coloration.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida plant.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘WEKnewchi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose.It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘WEKlezpat’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 17,175) and as its pollen parent the variety known as‘WEKvossutono’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,473).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its excellent colorstability throughout the life of the flower, its moderate fruity andsomewhat spicy fragrance and its many hairs on the peduncle andreceptacle of the flower. The plant has a rounded bushy growing habit,suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKnewchi’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.Dr. Huey (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘WEKlezpat’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKnewchi’ bearsdouble flowers (about 30 to 40 petals) of peachy pink coloration,‘WEKlezpat’ bears very double flowers of butter gold blushed pinkcoloration with significantly heavier petalage (about 48 to 72 petals).The new variety bears medium sized flowers (about 8.0 to about 10.1 cm.in diameter), whereas the seed parent bears larger flowers (about 7.7 toabout 11.8 cm. in diameter).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent,‘WEKvossutono’ by the following combination of characteristics: whereas‘WEKnewchi’ bears flowers of peachy pink coloration with a moderatefruity to somewhat spicy fragrance, ‘WEKvossutono’ bears butter goldflowers with a strong licorice fragrance. The new variety has a roundedbushy medium height growing habit (about 120 to about 200 cm. inheight), whereas the pollen parent has a compact and bushy significantlyshorter growing habit (about 70 to about 85 cm. in height).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘HARpageant’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,587) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKnewchi’ bearsdouble flowers (about 30 to 40 petals) of peachy pink coloration,‘HARpageant’ bears double flowers of mango, peach & apricot blendcoloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 20 to 32 petals).The new variety has a rounded bushy growing habit (about 120 to about200 cm. in height and about 210 to about 250 cm. spread at the widestpoint), whereas the closest commercially available cultivar has anupright significantly shorter and more compact growing habit (about 100to about 130 cm. in height and about 50 to about 65 cm. spread at thewidest point).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif.in the month of December. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (1966) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of December.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, sometimes inclusters of two to four per stem. Flowers may be borne in regularrounded clusters on strong moderately short to medium length stems(about 13 to about 60 cm.). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly andnearly continuously during the growing season. The flowers have amoderate fruity to somewhat spicy fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 3.4 to about 5.0 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.3 to about 0.4 cm. in diameter), and usually erect to somewhatstiff. It is smooth with many hairs. Peduncle color is between 146B and147C often heavily suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun,with between 187B and 183B. Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about1.3 to about 1.7 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.7 to about2.1 cm. in length, and moderately globular to somewhat ovoid in shapewith a conspicuous neck. The surface of the bud bears between 10 to 12foliaceous appendages with some hairs, usually with slender entirefoliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud about ¼ or more ofits length. Bud color is between 137C and 138B often moderatelysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187Band 183A.

The sepals are about 2.3 to about 3.2 cm. in length and about 0.8 toabout 1.1 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 137C and 138B often moderately suffused, especiallyon the side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183A. The outersurface of the sepal is smooth and bears between 0 to 6 foliaceousappendages with some hairs. The inner surface color of the sepal is near146C broadly bordered by near 137A. After the sepals open, the innersurface color is often moderately suffused, especially on the areaexposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B. The inner surface of thesepal is covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined withvery few stipitate glands and many hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of medium length (about 0.7 to about 0.9cm.) and moderately heavy in caliper (about 0.8 to about 1.1 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is cup-shaped in form. Its surface is smoothwith many hairs and with somewhat thin fleshy walls. The receptaclecolor is between 144A and 138B often moderately suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.6 toabout 2.3 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.3 to about 3.2cm. in length, and moderately ovoid to somewhat pointed in form. Thecolor of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 29Band 24B gradually suffusing toward the petal edge with between 39B and33B sometimes lightly blushed with between 43C and 46D. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a somewhat large zone of between 154Cand 1C. The color of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals isbetween 41C and 33B. At the point where the petal attaches, there is alarge zone of near 3C.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8.0 to about 10.1 cm. indiameter. Petalage is double with about 30 to 40 petals and about 7 to15 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom formis somewhat high centered to cupped, and the petals are loosely spiraledto cupped to somewhat undulated with petal edges somewhat reflexedoutward. When fully open, the bloom form is cupped and the petals areloosely cupped to moderately undulated with petal edges somewhatreflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium tosomewhat thick thickness, with upper surfaces moderately satiny andunder surfaces slightly shiny. The petals are about 3.2 to about 5.2 cm.in length and about 2.6 to about 4.6 cm. in width at the widest point.Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are moderately obovate to nearly round in shape withrounded to moderately mucronate apices and sometimes slightly notchedwith one to two notches.

The inner petals are broadly obovate in shape with rounded to moderatelymucronate apices.

Petaloids are about 1.3 to about 4.3 cm. in length and about 0.7 toabout 3.1 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped moderately obovate to somewhat oblanceolate with irregular tosomewhat rounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The color at the base of the under surfaces of the outer petals is near6D gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to between 29D and29C sometimes moderately suffused with between 53B and 53C. There is novisible change in coloration at the point where the petal attaches. Thecolor at the base of the upper surfaces of the outer petals is between10B and 8B gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to between33D and 29C sometimes moderately suffused with between 53B and 53C.There is no visible change in coloration at the point where the petalattaches.

The color at the base of the under surfaces of the intermediate andinner petals is near 6D gradually suffusing toward the middle of thepetal to between 29D and 29C sometimes lightly suffused with between 53Cand 53D. The color at the base of the upper surfaces of the intermediateand inner petals is between 10B and 8B gradually suffusing toward themiddle of the petal to between 33D and 29C sometimes lightly suffusedwith between 53C and 53D.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 10B and 8B atthe base gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to between33D and 29C.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The color at the base of the under surfaces of the outer petals is near10D gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to between 27Aand 36A sometimes moderately suffused with between 60C and 60D. There isno visible change in coloration at the point where the petal attaches.The color at the base of the upper surfaces of the outer petals isbetween 8C and 4C gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal tobetween 37D and 36A sometimes moderately suffused with between 60A and60B. There is no visible change in coloration at the point where thepetal attaches.

The color at the base of the under surfaces of the intermediate andinner petals is near 10D gradually suffusing toward the middle of thepetal to between 27A and 36A sometimes lightly suffused with between 60Cand 60D. The color at the base of the upper surfaces of the intermediateand inner petals is between 8C and 4C gradually suffusing toward themiddle of the petal to between 37D and 36A sometimes moderately suffusedwith between 60A and 60B.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 8C and 4C atthe base gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to between37D and 36A.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In December in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 150) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of medium to somewhat long length (about 0.4 to about 1.1cm.) most with anthers. Filaments are between 14B and 13A in color. Theanthers are moderately small for the class and all open approximately atthe same time. Anther color when immature is near 23B on the externalpart and near 12D on the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near164C on the external part and near 200A on the internal part. Pollen ismoderate and between 18C and 19C in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 130). The styles are moderatelyeven, somewhat short to average in length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.),thin in caliper and loosely bunched to somewhat separated. Stigma coloris between 14C and 11A. Style color is between 2D and 1D often lightlysuffused with between 53B and 53C. Ovaries are usually all enclosed inthe calyx.

Hips are of average length (about 1.2 to about 1.7 cm.), rounded tosomewhat globular in form with a flat top, and between 26A and 25A incolor when ripe. The hip surface is smooth with thick fleshy walls. Thesepals are moderately permanent and usually straight in shape.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 11to about 17 per hip, about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in diameter at thewidest point and between 164C and 165D in color.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 7.0 to about11.8 cm. in length and about 4.8 to about 9.1 cm. in width at the widestpoint, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture, and glossy infinish on the upper side and semi-glossy to somewhat matte in finish onthe underside. The leaves have a pinnate venation pattern. The terminalleaflets are about 3.1 to about 5.5 cm. in length and about 2.1 to about3.5 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped ovate to somewhat oval withacute to somewhat acuminate apices and rounded bases. Their margins areusually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 147A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 148C. Theunder and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similarin coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf.The upper surface color of the young leaf is between 137A and 147A,often heavily suffused with between 187A and 183A. The under surfacecolor of the young leaf is between 138B and 139C, often moderatelysuffused with between 187B and 183A. The under and upper colors of theleaf veins on the young leaf are similar in coloration to the upper andunder surfaces colors of the young leaf.

The rachis is somewhat light in caliper and rough. The upper side isshallowly grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with few stipitateglands and small prickles. The rachis color is near 146D on theunderside and near 137C on the upper side often moderately suffused onthe young leaves with between 187B and 183B.

The stipules are about 1.0 to about 1.8 cm. in length and moderatelywide (about 0.5 to about 0.9 cm.) with moderately long straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and sometimesrecurve toward the stem. The under and upper surface color of thestipule is between 137C and 146B often moderately suffused on the youngleaves with between 187B and 183B.

The petiole is somewhat light in caliper and rough. The upper side isshallowly grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the petiole is rough with few stipitateglands and small prickles. The petiole is about 0.5 to about 1.6 cm. inlength and about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm in width at the widest point. Thepetiole color is near 146D on the underside and near 137C on the upperside often moderately suffused on the young leaves with between 187B and183B.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a rounded bushy medium height growing habit (about 120 toabout 200 cm. in height and about 210 to about 250 cm. spread at thewidest point), with very full branching. It displays moderately vigorousgrowth and the canes are of somewhat heavy caliper for the class (about2.3 to about 3.5 cm. in diameter at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 147B and 146A. They bear somelarge prickles that are about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in length. The largeprickles are hooked slightly downward with a somewhat short moderatelybroad oval base; prickle color is between 164A and 165B. The major stembears few small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146B and 147B. They bear few largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is between 162C and 161C often moderatelysuffused with between 187C and 187D. The branches bear few smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146C and 147C often heavilysuffused with between 187B and 183A. They bear few large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is between 162C and 161C often heavily suffused withbetween 187B and 187C to as dark as near 187A. The shoots bear few smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.